Locations

Location Description:

Located just down the block from the legendary, defunct CBGBs, the Bowery Electric is a rock-centric, workhorse music venue with a robust concert calendar on the lower tip of the East Village. The bar plays at its famous ex-neighbor's punky dive-vibe, but the flat-screen above the bar which broadcasts the stage proves that the era of the haggard, DIY space has come to an end (at least in Manhattan). While it's not the hippest downtown venue, you will probably go see a friend's band play there at some point, and the downstairs main stage is surprisingly spacious and has great sound. The Bowery Electric succeeds in maintaining a healthy variety of musical acts on the block. The crowd varies quite a bit depending on who is performing, but the venue usually gets full. The drink options aren't particularly interesting (or cheap), but the staff is friendly and keep cool even when things get hectic. There's generally no cover for the ground-level bar, which features a nightly mix of singer-songwriters or DJs in the "Map Room." At most, 30 people can cram into the back room's microscopic area, but the stage points out to the main bar so the drinking crowd can enjoy the tunes from a distance.